Enemies trying to keep us without a system, says Ghani

KABUL (Pajhwok): While praising the status of Shaheed (martyr), President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday the enemies wanted to frighten Afghans, make them weak and keep them without a viable system.

Addressing a ceremony marking the 14th death anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the president offered his sincere condolences to bereaved families in a video message on the Martyrs’ Week.

Massoud was killed by two Arab attackers, posing as journalists, in Takhar province on September 9, 2001 -- two days before the 9/11 attacks. Taliban and Al Qaeda were blamed for his assassination.

“We are commemorating the sacrifices of martyrs and the Afghanistan National Hero is a key leader in our history. He struggled all his life for an Islamic government, maintaining independence, democracy, national unity,” Ghani remarked.

Millions of Afghans had been killed as a result of invasions, cruelty and terrorism, he lamented, saying a large number of children had been deprived of education. Many more were displaced from their houses, he said, promising that the sacrifices of the people would be respected.

One aim of the gathering was to respect the sacrifices of the martyrs, share the grief of their families and to prevent cruelty, he said, adding it was responsibility of the government not to forget the families of martyrs.

“The enemies of Afghanistan want to scare our people and make them weak and without any system. They want to keep the Afghans from rebuilding their country and doubting each other. But as Allah promises the right (Haq) will prevail,” he said.

The mysterious killings of dozens of tribal elders, religious scholars, social figures and other personalities over the past 10 years in Kandahar province and last Saturday’s incident, which claimed the lives of 13 people, should be condemned, he said.

“It is the proof of our success that our security personnel are independently defending their motherland in line with the wishes of martyrs,” the president observed.

“The amount of losses the war has inflicted on the Afghan government and nation last year could change the living conditions of the people,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Eng. Mohammad Khan said the aim of the ceremony was to present a clear image and message to the young generation of the sacrifices, bravery and achievements of martyrs.

Another purpose of the gathering was to fulfill the wishes of martyrs, follow in their footsteps, devote themselves to the Islamic values and defeat occupation forces, he said.

Thousands of people had laid down their lives for the freedom of the country but no one had so far assisted their families, which deserved generous assistance, he added.